So here we are with only three weeks left of school, and I have to say that it’s easily one of my favorite times of the year. Not because summer is right around the corner and because the holiday season is in sight, but because it’s the time of the year when we get to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished as a school. The next few weeks are all about celebrations, and in my opinion it’s a beautiful thing to see…we celebrate our students at graduation and moving on ceremonies, we celebrate academic achievement at our academic award ceremonies, we have our athletic awards night and our major year-end award assembly where we celebrate kids in so many areas beyond athletics and academics, and we celebrate in smaller, more individual ways with year-end MAP scores, positive student directed feedback from teachers, and portfolio reflections around goal completion. So much goes into a successful year as you know, and I love that we are constantly looking for ways to celebrate our kids, and purposely sending them off on their holidays with a true sense and feeling of accomplishment…like I mentioned, it’s a great time of the year!

All that said, I know that for teachers these next three weeks can be stressful and overwhelming, and often times we can get so caught up in all that’s going on that we forget to slow down, reflect, and find time to celebrate ourselves. All of these student accomplishments don’t happen without dedicated, committed, and passionate educators, and as we speed toward that final Friday, I want to make sure that our teachers…YOU… are celebrated for all that you’ve given to our community. I know that we have a few upcoming celebrations planned to recognize years of service, departing teachers, and one final happy hour where we can toast each other to an amazing year completed, but before all of that I want to publicly say thank you to each and every one of you for your outstanding work here at AC.

I see how you go above and beyond in so many ways…I see how many hours you put in beyond the regular school day to ensure that our kids are getting the education that they deserve…I see the tremendous effort that you put in to developing strong relationships with our students and with each other, and I see how our school has literally been transformed because of who you are as people…I want to celebrate you! I feel an immense sense of pride when I think about all that we’ve accomplished as a team, and how far we’ve come as a school because of your amazing contributions. I had a chance to reflect last week during a couple of long plane rides, and honestly, it’s staggering to think about how far we’ve come throughout my time here…it’s a fact that most, if not all of the transformative work across our school would not have been completed or successful if it wasn’t for who you are as educators…absolutely incredible.

The biggest piece for me however, has been the unwavering positive attitude that you’ve come to school with each and every day. Throughout the good times and the struggles it has been your inspiring attitudes that have impressed me the most. You always frame every initiative, every decision, and every minute of the day around what is best for our students, and that for me is my biggest celebration of you…attitude is everything, and you’ve inspired me every day with yours…thank you. Here is one of my favorite poems, which speaks to who you are as a faculty…never giving up, always trying to make things better, and forever framing a situation through a positive lens. Enjoy the next three weeks everyone and please take the time to celebrate each other along the way…it’s been quite a year!

The Greatest – By Don Schlitz

Little boy in a baseball hat,

Stands in the field with his ball and bat

Says, “I am the greatest player of them all”
Puts his bat on his shoulder and he tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down,
Swings his bat all the way around
the world so still you can hear the sound; the baseball falls to the ground.

Now the little boy doesn’t say a word, picks up his ball he is undeterred.
Says, “I am the greatest that there has ever been”
And he grits his teeth and he tries again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down,
Swings his bat all the way around
the world so still you can hear the sound; the baseball falls to the ground.

He makes no excuses he shows no fear
He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy he adjusts his hat, picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says, “I am the greatest when the game is on the line”
And he gives his all one last time.
And the ball goes up and the moon so bright
Swings his bat with all his might
the world’s as still as still can be, the baseball falls
and that’s strike three.

Now it’s suppertime and his momma calls,
little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, “I am the greatest, that is a fact,
but even I didn’t know I could pitch like that!”

So I was going through the end of the year event calendar this morning over coffee, and I honestly can’t believe that we’re so close to the finish…how did the school year speed by so fast? I also can’t believe how much we still have left to do before we send the kids off to their summer holiday. The last month of the year is always tricky in my opinion, as we struggle to connect the excitement and promise of summer with the pressure and anxiety of finishing strong and leaving well. It’s hard when we see the finish line in the distance, to not get distracted or complacent as all of the emotions of the last five weeks begin to set in. I wrote a post several years ago that I like to send out every year around this time, as a challenge and reminder to all of us that the next four weeks might just be the most important weeks of the year. Tomorrow we officially begin the homestretch, and we all need to be at our best. Beginning today, we all need to commit to finishing strong and to leaving well. Here’s the message again, and please, please take it to heart…

As we stare down the last month of school, I want to challenge us all to re-commit to our students, their learning, and to each other, and to dig deep to finish what we started. I’m challenging us all to LEAVE WELL. You see, sometimes when schools and educators aren’t careful, there can be a tendency to take the foot off the gas so to speak when speeding toward the end of the year. It can become very easy to let complacency creep in, and to ease off on the work, the effort, and the attention to student learning. Losing focus and looking ahead to next year and to new adventures can quickly turn what has been a wonderful year into a disappointing end result simply because the finish wasn’t strong and the goals weren’t seen through to completion. In my opinion, we’ve put ourselves in a great position to end the year on a high, and to be able to look back on the year with an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s an exciting time of the year I know, and the kids are happy and smiling…we all have one eye focused on our summer adventures, and we can see the finish line on the horizon…I’m asking you however, to not lose sight of the importance of what’s still left to do.

Finally, I’m asking you all to pay careful attention to our beautiful kids over the next several weeks. Many of them are navigating the rough emotional road that leads to saying goodbye to their friends, saying goodbye to a school that they love, and saying goodbye to the identities that they’ve forged during their time with us here at AC. It’s also very easy for all our kids to get caught up in the promise of summertime fun, and to get distracted from the goal at hand, which is to work hard right up until the end, and to set themselves up to move on with confidence, pride, and with the right mindset. Talk to your kids…ask them how they are feeling…give them extra support if you see them veering off track, and be the amazing role models and mentors that they’ve come to expect. Don’t let them off the hook, and go above and beyond (even though you’re tired) to make the final four or five weeks their best of the year. Starting the year strong is so, so important as you all know, but it’s comparatively easy compared to the challenges of May and June. Finishing the year strong is where the rubber hits the road in my opinion, and it’s here that all master teachers and school wide leaders worth their salt show their mettle.

For those of us moving on to new adventures, like me, remember that we’re only ever as good as our last exit…….and for those of us returning, know that students remember the educators that we are in June…..so let’s make sure they remember the best of what we have to offer. The last few weeks are going to speed by everyone so please commit to making them count. Let’s all feel great about what we’ve accomplished so far this year…it’s been amazing…but we’re not done yet! Finish strong, leave well, and wrap up the year with a beautiful bow…Happy Mother’s day to all you amazing Mother’s out there as well…you certainly deserve more than just a day! Have a wonderful week everyone and remember to be great for our students and good to each other.

Quote of the week…

If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a brand new hello – Pablo Coelho

​So a couple of days ago I was welcoming the kids off of the school buses, like I always do to start the day, when a little girl walked up to me and gave me a beautiful and heartfelt compliment. She wasn’t fishing for one herself, and she wanted absolutely nothing in return, it was just an authentic gesture that was inspired by an experience that we had both shared together just a few days earlier…and you know what, it absolutely made my day! It made me instantly think of that great Mark Twain quote, “I can live for two months on a good compliment”, and to be honest, I haven’t stopped smiling since. It got me thinking about the power of compliments, and how if given with true sincerity and at the right moment in time, they can totally be day changing…maybe even life changing.

I came across some interesting research out there which suggests that to our brain, receiving a compliment is as much a social reward as being given money. This journal article also suggests that using compliments is an easy and effective strategy to use in the classroom and during any form of rehabilitation, and finally how compliments can actually be an integral component of cementing a person’s skill development. This is not surprising to me at all, as I’ve seen it first hand with my students and with my own two children. I also know the positive and immediate boost that I receive when someone compliments me on something.The thing is, it’s easy to go days or even weeks without either giving or receiving one, so I think it’s time that we all start making compliment giving a priority throughout our daily routines.

We can all do a better job at not only finding opportunities to sincerely compliment the people that we come across each and every day, but also at how we receive a compliment when it’s given. It’s hard for some of us to take a compliment without becoming uncomfortable, uneasy, or even cynical about someone’s intent…it’s hard to just stand there and smile, accept it, and say a simple thank you, even if it is the best and most appropriate response.

I found another interesting article by Eric M. Roberts, which lays out six important reasons why we should all begin to compliment more. Here they are…

Compliments encourage others who are struggling

A compliments can truly be all that stands between someone being successful or giving up

Compliments help people learn new tasks

Compliments strengthen and soften relationships

Compliments increase our circle of influence

Compliments help you become less cynical

Like me, Roberts recognizes that most people are pretty stingy with the giving of unsolicited compliments, even when we know that they are a powerful and positive experience for both parties. Anyway, I’m not sure that the compliment that I received from that little girl will last me for two months, but it’s going on four days now and I’m still thinking about it…that’s pretty darn powerful. I want to challenge us all over the next few weeks, as we speed toward the end of the year, to purposely look for opportunities to make someone’s day with a compliment. Be sincere, genuine, and authentic in your delivery, and be gracious and thankful if you happen to receive one for yourself, which I know you all deserve. I’ll be spreading them around as well, and I’m excited to see the smiles. Have a wonderful week everyone and remember to be great for our students and good to each other.

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